合纵连横

hé zòng lián héng

Vertical and Horizontal Alliance, opposing stratagems devised by the School of Diplomacy 縱橫家|纵横家[Zong4 heng2 jia1] during the Warring States Period (425-221 BC)

variant of 合[he2]

zòng

vertical; north-south (Taiwan pr. [zong1])

lián

to link

héng

horizontal